As of February, nearly one in 10 reverse-mortgage borrowers were at risk of foreclosure as a result of failing to pay real-estate taxes and insurance.

WSJ: Rethinking Reverse Mortgages, Part 2: Pitfalls and Dangers

And reserves are an attractive vehicle for that: they are one of the world's few remaining risk-free assets, and at 0.25%, they pay more than Treasury bills.

ECONOMIST: American banks

For example, the new job contract just agreed by the unions and employers after months of negotiation will enable employers to shed workers without the risk of going to a labour tribunal, but only at the price of higher pay-offs.

ECONOMIST: French reforms: Attali the Hun | The